Biomechanical assessment of electric lifting chair for persons with disability

Electric lifting chair is a typical assistive product to aid for standing up and sitting down for persons with disability, and it is particularly useful for the elderly persons whose muscular system is weakened by degenerative joint disease. This paper describes a biomechanical assessment of electric lifting chair with hip-up function. In experiments we measured 3D motion data and electromyogram (EMG) on the femoral muscle when subject performs the standing motion on the predetermined seat height. The experimental results show that 15 degree of the hip-up angle is adequate for the hip-up function, and that the higher seat position is more effective to assist for standing up motion.